Work As Worship: Science and Faith
“Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth and no plant had yet sprung up, for the Lord God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no one to work the ground…” -Genesis 2:5 Part of the purpose of creation, of you and I, was to work. Just the word “work” makes many of us cringe, just like the word “Monday” does but what if I told you, before sin we were supposed to work, and enjoy it?! “So, I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot.” -Ecclesiastes 3:22 The fall is what created turmoil within our work, and why it is now impossible to find a job that will not have some aspect of hardship to it. However, God has designed an intentional purpose in us in order to accomplish the career he calls us to. We are going to define career as I define occupations in my career as an occupational therapist a certified hand therapist. Occupations mean whatever you are purposed and called to do, as well as what you enjoy doing. This can have a wide range such as a full-time job, part time job, being a volunteer, missionary, a call as a parent at home or call as a student at school.
When you are in high school, it is so hard to know what you want to do the rest of your life. My recommendation is to shadow. This is the only way you can see what you are going to do every day the rest of your life. This is what led me to my calling to be an occupational therapist. I shadowed a physical therapist and loved it, however I always struggled because I wanted to help people physically, psychologically/mentally, emotionally, nutritionally, and spiritually. What career could possibly do all of this? All these aspects are in the occupational therapy framework. Occupational therapy looks at bio-psycho-social needs of individuals. An occupational therapist helps others of all ages return to their occupations using scientific research and evidence-based practice for physical and mental health while remaining client-centered. An occupation is not only your job; it is anything anyone finds meaningful.
OT works with people mentally, physically, developmentally, emotionally with any diagnosis or symptoms which is stopping people from living out their everyday life. We want people to live satisfying lives. All ages. “OT is a passion to help others achieve their full potential, to work toward their goals mentally and physically. OT helps others overcome challenges that restrict them and utilize their strengths” Minds and hands change the world. When someone has an injury to the hand, people do not realize how much this can go as deep as to affect their personal life. We look at people as multi-factorial. This could be a sport, playing a musical instrument, for a child with autism school activities, for an adult in a nursing home this could be the ability to shower, for an individual with depression this could mean finding motivation in order to take care of their marriage and kids, you name it. OTRs focus on your role, your environment, your passions, your spirituality, social life and what you can do physically. We work in outpatient clinics, hospitals, schools, nursing homes/skilled nursing facilities, community health facilities, with sport teams, home care, pediatric clinics, anywhere. We work with diagnoses ranging from shoulder injuries, hand injuries, psychological, musculoskeletal, neuroscience, upper extremity injuries, cardiovascular, special needs, cancer, or any other diagnoses you can think of. We also make custom-made splints and casts. We are your ultimate encouragers and life coaches. The theme for OTs is helping others live life to the fullest.
“You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.” -2 Chronicles 20:17 I had an overwhelming fear come over me almost every day of graduate school. I also had an overwhelming peace when I realized God was on my side. If you are struggling in school or feel you are not good enough, my advice is to pray this prayer. “Lord, I have the desire to be an occupational therapist/certified hand therapist (for me) in order to help your people. If it be your will, please help me in this time.” When you are after a career in order to help His people, He is on your side. Does this mean you do not study? I also played collegiate volleyball. Does this mean I do not practice and expect to win games? Absolutely not. Do your best, but realize it is God who will provide, and that He has placed the dream and desire to work hard on your heart in the first place. “The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord.” -Proverbs 21:3. Prepare, work hard, have confidence in Him and watch God work!
I was not the top of my class, but I knew I would put in the work and study to accomplish my goals and dreams. Others may have more talent than you, but there is never an excuse for anyone to work harder. However, it was God which helped me pass every neuroscience exam, even when I thought it was hopeless. I used this philosophy as an athlete, and into graduate school. Also, find the purpose in every single class even when in your own eyes it may not seem significant. God has you taking a certain course for a reason.
My first semester of graduate school I struggled. I cried because my life seemed to only consist of studying, and all the studying I did never felt like enough. It was the night before our anatomy and physiology final, and we had just finished our fourth exam which took me all the time leading up to this point to study for. This was going to be one of the hardest exams in grad school, not only the content but the cadavers and lab. I felt hopeless. I went by our bluff to cry, pray and cry some more. One of the girls in my class came up and asked me, “Will this affect your eternal salvation?” The hope and peace which transcends understanding came over me.
This same amazing colleague of mine was in our statistical research scientific inquiry class with me. We went to a tutoring session together, and during the session the instructor talked about a research equation equaling two zeros instead of one. My friend asked, “Why does it matter if it is two zeros or one, since they equal the same?” The instructor replied jokingly, “Why do you matter?” Her reply was, “I matter to Jesus!” Even though the instructor was joking, it hit me. People in my life who have either said I am not good enough or have brought me down do not speak truth. Only God does that. I needed to have the same confidence as her when talking about Jesus and myself, and I had it in our program since! The coolest thing was after, our professor started a PowerPoint for the class and the first thing the slide said was, “You matter to Jesus, and you matter to me no matter what the answer of any equation is in your life!”
Once I was working with a pediatric patient who would tell me “I already do it best so let me do it!” I was so frustrated because I knew exactly how to help him and treat him, and he would not let me. I thought how he could not want my help, when I was convicted. This is exactly how I am with God in my own life. So many times, I am telling God I know best, and how frustrated he must be!
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” -Colossians 3:23-24 It makes such a difference in the work environment when you work under supervisors, bosses and doctors who you enjoy working under, but what do you do if they are not? You work with the same work ethic, understanding our jobs have been designed by God, and for God. He has gifted you with your talents and abilities, and when you work as if you are working for Him and not human masters, you are serving someone who will not change or treat you unfairly. You are working for someone who can provide you with the motivation you need to perform your job at your best. “So Bezalel, Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the Lord has given skill and ability to know how to carry out all the work of constructing the sanctuary are to do the work just as the Lord has commanded.” -Exodus 36:1 and Exodus 35:35
“Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, 8 because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.” – Ephesians 6:5-8
We are to serve whole heartedly, putting our best foot forward each day. “Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, 10 and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.” -Titus 2:9-10 When we respect our bosses, supervisors and doctors, we are in an essence showing them Christ.
“Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.” -Ephesians 4:28 God has designed each of us to work, and to work hard. Another motivation we should have in wanting to work is how we will share with others, and our families.
“Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”28 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” -John 6:27-29
When we have the mentality that our job will have eternal outcomes, it makes it a lot more exciting than thinking it is just to put food on the table that is here one day and eaten the next. “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” -1 Corinthians 15:58 You know that when you work for God, fruit will be produced in some way shape or form, and on His timing.
“You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the Lord’s people. I urge you, brothers and sisters, 16 to submit to such people and to everyone who joins in the work and labors at it. 17 I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you. 18 For they refreshed my spirit and yours also. Such men deserve recognition.” -1 Corinthians 16:15-18
Devoting your work to God, means devoting yourself to the people in your work, regardless of how you feel about them. You can supply what is lacking from one another, as a team. When we help one another at work, it provides refreshment and increased productivity.
“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.” -Ecclesiastes 9:10 I love my job at the clinic I am at. God tells us to put our entire hearts into everything we do. I call this passion! Passion is a choice and God commands us to have it. I know it can be difficult because sometimes we are called to do things we may not want to. Find something you love in what you are doing, and you will find the passion. He knows it is needed to do the best we can in life.. God’s handprints are all over it! First off, it is very hard as a new graduate to get a job in the upper extremity setting. Our surgeons and therapists are incredible and experienced. One of our surgeons even did my great grandpas carpal tunnel release when he was young! Today, I am proud to say I am one of his occupational therapists.
After I finished my course, lab and clinical work at Concordia University Wisconsin, I went to the UW hospital at the University of Wisconsin Madison. Both CUW and UW prepared me, and I cannot begin to express how grateful I am. CUW mission statement was helping mind, body and spirit while keeping Jesus at the center. Once I graduated, I felt on top of the word but soon was down on myself when people told said they did not feel I had enough experience. I decided to call up all the certified hand therapists in the state of Wisconsin to get tips on how to get into the field as a new graduate even if they did not have opening. I ended up calling who is now the president of the American Society of Hand Therapy who said, “Hey, we are having someone retire, come and interview!” I went through multiple interviews including the supervisor of therapy, supervisor of the clinic and our surgeons. In the process I was told by my supervisor the clinic instructor I had a friend at Madison who did her clinicals at hand to shoulder specialists of Wisconsin and worked there for a little bit! They were able to get more information about me from her, out of all the supervisors I could have had, what are the chances of that! Again, coincidence? No, God! He knew. Did you know that there is no word for coincidence in the Hebrew language? The Hebrews believed that ALL things were of God. Alright, I am offered the job but now I need to pass my boards. Right when I think I am in the clear, another mountain rises in front of me. . I continued to study and before I knew it, God lead me through once again. I passed!
God has worked in crazy ways once I became a therapist, and I am just getting started. Once I was treating a woman with dementia. I was making her a splint, and she was so scared. They brought her in from her nursing home, and you could tell she was unaware where she was. She was nonverbal for a while, but then saw my cross necklace. She instantly relaxed and pointed to her own. Jesus brings peace no matter what circumstance we are in. I had another individual who I saw for a thumb injury a long time, and he was asking me more and more questions about faith. I prayed God would help me tell him whatever he needed to hear our last session. He did not show up for our last session. I was really bummed. Then, I received a call from the same patient later stating he woke up with a different break in his arm! What! How does that happen? I was sad about the individual being injured again; however, it was amazing the talks we had after. Another time I was grocery shopping, and a man turned around and saw me store, he then yelled, “You healed my hand!” 2 Kings 5:1 and 2 Kings 5:14-15 talk about a commander of the army of the king of Aram named Maamam who had leprosy. Through him the Lord gave victory. He dipped in the Jordan seven times and his skin was brand new, leading them to faith in the one true God.
We all want someone who will not give up on us. I had a friend in my program who was struggling, as I was. I promised her I would study with her until she passed our neuroscience course, even knowing I was not guaranteed. I saw her potential when she didn’t. More importantly, God sees our potential. Be that person. Everyone has potential and if you haven’t noticed, it’s sometimes harder to find it in ourselves than other people. She went into the final with tears, thinking there was no hope. Later that week she called me to thank me, but more importantly to thank God she passed! Be the person to remind others you will not let them fail, and they will not fail with God at their side!
As a therapist, one of the hardest parts of my job is putting people through pain when it is necessary for them to get better. However, I do it because I know the result will be worth it for them. Stretching leads to growth, but it can be painful. Sometimes people make the best advances when they are uncomfortable, I notice not only physically, but mentally. One population I worked with that shattered my heart was women who’d had breast cancer and need mastectomies. As women, we relate our breasts as part of who we are, and it was so heart breaking to see these women mourn this loss of their body. We must do scar work where they were removed, and we had to break “cords” from the lymph nodes that had died off under the armpits in order to increase their shoulder range of motion. Breaking of the cords was so painful, you could hear the snapping however, once they were released, they were shocked at their increased range. Every job will have its heart breaks, its difficulties, but God will continue to show you His glory and miracles daily when you ask Him and look for them. You can be God’s light in others darkness, no matter what setting you are in or what population you work with.
No matter what your degree and no matter what you do, you are the one for the job because God has called you to it. There is no difference between God and the secular world. We try to separate the two, but God is so powerful he uses all! Even when you make mistakes. I had two patients by the same name one time. One was a young guy and the other an older guy. I read the bio of the younger and sat down with the older. I asked him if his injury came from him tackling someone, and he laughed uncontrollably. He said no but half his deltoid was shot off! I had another lady once, who came in pointing at me saying I did not make her splint right. It took everything in me not to cry. My supervisor took me aside, saying how one time someone said to her “I want to talk to your supervisor” when she was making a splint. She said, “I am the supervisor.” Even when we make mistakes, you are the one for the job.
My cousin felt God calling him to astrophysics to combine his love for science, the gospel, knowledge, and theology. Once he graduated, he felt God calling him to be a professor, but felt it would be a long shot compared to him going into research. He was not the first author of any research, struggled to get his PHD and did not do a post doc which most professors do. He prayed. He felt God’s calling was clear one night. He was accepted as a professor at MSOE. He said how this exemplified God’s faithfulness even in his doubt. He stated, “he who created me for a purpose knows me better than I know myself, understands that purpose better than I do, and is even willing to step on and correct me when I’ve gotten confused on who I am and what I’m made to do. If God is for us, who can be against us? No one. Not even our own confusion! Thanks be to God!” No matter what walk of life you take, if you walk with Jesus, it will be amazing.
I wanted to share some of my anatomy and physiology knowledge of the human body I learned in graduate school and as an occupational therapist to show you how undeniably amazing God made us. First, our DNA, the molecule of heredity. The Human Genome Project even shows there is one biological human race. Also, our entire body is made of laminin which is a cross shaped protein making up the basis of our cells. The cross holds everything in life together.
“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the first born from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.19For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—23if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.” -Colossians 1:15-23
Everything has been created through Jesus, and for Jesus. Because of Him, we have our purpose for now and into eternity. We are reconciled with God and can continued established and firm in our faith.
We were created for God; God was not created for us.
“But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” 19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silas and Timothy—was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always been “Yes.”20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so, through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. 21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” -2 Corinthians 1:18-22
In Christ, our purpose is always “yes.” He has sealed His ownership on us that cannot be taken away, placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts, who will guide us in our jobs, and every day of our lives.
“…yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.” -1 Corinthians 8:6 Jesus is not only the Savior of the universe, but the purpose of the universe. Also, one of our surgeons told me the X,Y chromosomes for men would have thought to be less than the X,X for women, but it is not. Did you know our heart creates so much friction it could kill us without the pericardial sac? Did you know it is controlled by a small nerve called the Vagus nerve? We are a miracle each and every day. Speaking of purpose and being a miracle, think of birth! For my pediatric class, we had to come up with a list of each day from the day of conception, what changes occur for the baby and the mother and let me tell you how much can go wrong, but here you are. Reading this book. You are a miracle.
I am a strong believer in you can do anything you put your mind to due to neuroplasticity allowing the phrase “practice makes perfect.” Same with if we do not practice, the neural connections begin to prune. What we experience and more importantly, how we chose to live our lives have scientific and psychological effects on us. It is not just a saying, but science. When we live a life pleasing to God, our connections grow. When we use drugs, alcohol or other stimulants or depressors which have strong effects on our brain, our neural connections are affected. How about our eyes? Did you know we see opposite of how our vision is processed in the brain? Our nerves flip along the tract. We also have muscles which attach to our eyes holding them in the perfect position so we can see. Now let’s talk sports. My athletes out there, have you heard of adrenaline? We create adrenaline so the heart can pump the amount of blood needed to compete without having to communicate as much with the brain.
Time for my specialty and passion. I am an upper extremity/certified hand therapist at Hand to Shoulder Specialist of Wisconsin. The upper extremity is my “Wheelhouse.” Did you know seven muscles control just your index finger? Yep, your lumbrical, dorsal and volar interossei, flexor digitorum profundos, flexor digitorum superficialis (or sublimis) extensor indicis and extensor digitorum communis all control that one finger. The nerves which help control these muscles are the median, ulnar and radial nerves which break into further branches called the posterior and anterior interosseous nerves which all come from the brachial plexus which come off the spinal cord. It is even thought when Jesus was crucified, during crucifixions the nails in the wrist severed the median nerve, causing excruciating pain initially. I am not telling you this information to confuse you or try to make you love what I do, but I want you to realize this is not an accident! How could all these connections accidentally happen to work so you can move and feel your upper extremity?! Not only this, but God cared so much about the detail he made Grayson’s and Cleland’s ligaments to hold your skin in place during movement of the finger. Also, extensor digitorum communis is a muscle with a tendon to all your fingers except the thumb usually. In some people, it is missing in your pinky, but want to know what God thought of? A separate muscle called your extensor digiti minimi, and even if this muscle is affected and can’t function, a connection called your juncture tendinum can help your ring finger extent your small finger! Yet, people still think God doesn’t care about the details! That is harder to believe than an all-knowing God who designed you. Oh, and the nerves break into digital ulnar and radial sides in your fingertips, just to throw in one more piece of information for you. “You were shown these things so that you might know that the Lord is God; besides him there is no other.” -Deuteronomy 4:35 Even though this verse is referring to the miracles God performed out of Egypt, our body is also a miracle! “Do not be afraid, but let your hands be strong.” -Zechariah 8:13
Jesus is the ultimate healer, the great physician.
“Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24 News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them.” -Matthew 4:23-24, Matthew 8:14-17, Matthew 1:20-34 and Luke 4:38-40
“ Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them. The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.” -Matthew 15:30- 31, Matthew 14:35-36, Mark 6:55-56, Luke 6:18-19, Luke 9:11, Mark 7:37 and Luke 13:10-13 Specific examples include: Peter and John helped heal a man, and Peter asked those around “Why do you stare at us in amazement as if this was by our own power that we made this man walk? This is from God!” -Acts 3:11-13, Acts 3:6-10, Acts 3:16, Acts 14:8-10 and John 5:14-15.
“They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.” -Acts 4:7-10
“God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured, and the evil spirits left them.” -Acts 19:11-12
I was attending a seminar for my church where we were talking about confidence. One of the ladies shared she feels like the small finger in the big picture of life, indicating she is not very confident in who she is. I could not help but speak up. I told her the small finger (otherwise known as the pinky) is one of the most important fingers of the hand! It is the most important for grip strength. I told her when I have patients who are unable to use their small finger due to a fracture, nerve impairment or dislocation, their entire function is messed up to say the least. This shows how important we each are, but how Satan makes us have a distorted view of ourselves. Even my upper extremity surgeons I work for share how complicated our finger extensor mechanism is. Even atheist scientists have admitted it is near impossible to have the upper extremity move in just the right way for use. You are the small finger, in other words, the most important and have a purpose in this life!
I had a patient have a bad fracture of her small finger. We went through some intense and trying therapy. Once she was discharged, she said,” Who knew a broken finger would turn out to bring so much joy.” I cried. This is the definition of how the Lord works. Sure, could God take away our free will, take away all the evil and make us all robots. Sure. What is more powerful. God forcing us to be good, or making good out of the evil and painful circumstances of our lives? I am not saying I enjoy seeing my patients hurt, nor do I wish this upon anyone. I am sure if you asked my patient if she would like to get hurt again, she would say not. This is just to show God’s will and faithfulness is beyond what we can expect or imagine when hope seems lost. “All this, David said, ‘ have in writing as a result of the Lord’s hand on me, and he enabled me to understand all the details of the plan.’” -1 Chronicles 28:19
“…the wise heart will know the proper time and procedure.” -Ecclesiastes 8:5 I think of our protocols we have to follow from our doctors once our patients have surgery. There are guidelines, however we do have to use our clinical reasoning to know when to slow down or speed up a protocol, based on our doctors’ orders and the progress of the patient. “My son Solomon, the one whom God has chosen, is young and inexperienced. The task is great, because this palatial structure is not for man but for the Lord God.” -1 Chronicles 29:1 When we inquire on the Lord how to do our job, he gives us the proper time and procedures, as he knows the people you are working with and cares about them even more than you do. Even though experience is important, we all have to be a beginner at some point which is unsettling, but it is relieving and brings courage to know God sees your beginning and will provide for you when you inquire of Him. Part of His way of providing is to bring mentors and those with experience into your life. “…by paying attention to the wise they get knowledge.” -Proverbs 21:11 I cannot tell you how much watching and listening to my surgeons and therapists has increased my wisdom and knowledge very quickly, and I recommend you do the same. “In everything that he undertook in the service of God’s temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered.” -2 Chronicles 31:2 He sought God as a priority in prayer. When prayer is priority, everything else falls into place. “The shepherds are senseless and do not inquire of the Lord, so they do not prosper, and all their flock is scattered.” -Jeremiah 10:21
“To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his.” -Job 12:13 Whether people with wisdom realize it or not, God created the laws or the universe, and all wisdom belongs to Him. He wants to share it with you an wants you to ask of Him. In my field, I understand God is the true healer. He mends the fractures, He provides sensation, He heals all wounds, and He produces strength. He uses our team to do so, and I am so grateful for all the incredibly gifted and wise coworkers, colleagues, therapists, surgeons and bosses I have the honor to work with every day. “…mend its fractures.” -Psalm 60:2 “They have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but cannot walk.” -Psalm 115:7 “Praise be to the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.” -Psalm 144:1-2 Isaiah 1:6 and Proverbs 25:29 talk about wound care and saying taking care of a wound is like singing songs to a heavy heart in proverbs. “They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious.” -Jeremiah 6:14 “Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is there no healing for the wound of my people?” – Jeremiah 8:22 “But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,” declares the Lord.” -Jeremiah 30:17 (about Israel)
“Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt. It has not been bound up to be healed or put in a splint so that it may become strong enough to hold a sword.” -Ezekiel 30:21 Part of our job is to fabricate custom made orthotics, otherwise known as splints. If people have a fracture that is “non- displaced,” meaning there is a fracture, but the bone is still aligned, they still need to wear their splint to protect the fracture while it is weak in order to prevent surgery or it becoming “displaced.” God also provides us with “splints” in our lives, when we are fractured and broken to hold us together.
“I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord. So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them, and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.” – Ezekiel 37:6-8
“A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”3 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy.” – Matthew 8:2-3, Mark 1:40-42 and Luke 5:12-13 Even if the healing is not what we are picturing, God is always willing to help and heal us. “This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: ‘He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.’” -Matthew 8:17
“He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof.7 That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.”10 Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well” – Luke 7:6-10 and Matthew 8:5-10
It truly amazes me the number of healings done when Jesus saw others had faith. It was in their humility, the faith came. Trying harder will not increase your faith, but admitting to God you see His power, know His power and know He can do all things even though your own faith may struggle, He will honor you and consider this to be great faith. “Then Jesus said to the Centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And the servant was healed at that moment.” -Matthew 8:13 and Matthew 9:29, before him. ‘Lord, help me!’ she said.” -Matthew 15:25 “Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.” -Matthew 15:28. Also, Luke 8:41-47 shares a story about the woman in the crowd who had been bleeding over years and touched Jesus in the crowd and was instantly healed. “Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.” -Luke 8:48
“A widow lost her only son, and when Jesus saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, ‘Don’t cry.’ He told the young man to get up, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. They were filled with awe, praised God and they said God has come to help his people. “ Luke 7:12-16 and Matthew 14:14 God desires to help you, truly. I am not God and cannot tell you exactly what that help will entail or that everything we want will com true, but what I can tell you is I know the heart of God and He desires to help His children. How that happens and what that means, is for each of us to ask of Him.
Ten men had leprosy and called to Jesus. Jesus told them to go show themselves to the priests. They were healed on the way. Only one, a Samaritan, came back to praise God, threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. Jesus said, “weren’t there ten of you?” Go, your faith made him well.” -Luke 17:12-19 Gratefulness has a healing power of its own. It is not happy people who are grateful, but grateful people who are happy.
“Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life.” -Philippians 2:14-16 Do everything without grumbling. When you can find joy and not grumble, whether in your work or in your life, you will shine. How do we learn to not grumble as we all know life gives us plenty to grumble about? Getting into the word of life! “You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. 9 Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!” -James 5:8- 9 We should value people more than anyone. Staying patient and standing firm are two more tactics to help decrease our grumbling.
You can look at the exercise sheet, which is good, but unless you perform it won’t do any good but you still need the sheet to know what to do. Same with the Bible. You need to read to know what it says, but if you do not put it into use it won’t do what it needs to in your life. When we are born, we have all the muscles we could ever have already, but they will not do us any good unless we work them.
Psychology is a huge part of what we do, and there are even parts of Medicare that will not cover us if we do not address patients from a personal perspective within the roles they play each and every day. Procedural touch and comforting touch have proven to relieve anxiety. Patients can see how we care just by our touch, touching what can look “unattractive.” Many of the miracles Jesus performed, and many of the miracles in the Bible in general were accompanied by the laying on of hands, or when praying for others. In Acts 6:4-6 they devoted themselves to prayer and they laid their hands on those they prayed. Patient’s stories tell their fears, past medical history. Just the touch from another human being can show how much you care, helping to build rapport with a patient to motivate them. I think the same can work for those in our lives as well. You can help the patient manage pain if you control their anxiety which is controlled by the endocrine system. Gate control theory is affected by the mind as well as physical stimulation. Coping skills, diaphragmatic breathing and engagement in purposeful activity can help in a similar fashion.
I tried to see my boards like a sport, get my adrenaline going once it’s game time. I won’t stop there. I was struggling to give God my time, as I am always supposed to do first, and when I did I came across a verse that said “They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.” – Colossians 2:19 I had to look up what a “Sinew” was, and it turns out it is another name for a tendon or ligament! Coincidence? I think not
If you ever feel like you are not enough, remember God has you at your exact job, in your exact location, at this exact time for a reason. If you ever feel inadequate, He will provide. I had a patient who was five times my size. He was a shoulder patient, meaning I would have to perform treatment with his arm that was about as big as me. When I first saw him I thought, I can’t have him, I could barely lift his arm!” God knew so much more. He ended up healing well, glory to God, and he ended up sharing his incredible testimony with me how God saved him from the streets to him becoming a pastor today. There is always a purpose, and at your job you will always have a purpose.
